Part-time jobs, boxing, music lessons, art portfolios - time management is a problem for Leaving Certificate students, writes Olivia Kelly

In fifth year it was just a dot on the horizon, an unfortunate blot on a thankfully distant landscape, but, as the sixth year boys in St Vincent's CBS, Glasnevin and girls in Loreto Crumlin have discovered, the Leaving Cert creeps up faster than you'd think. "It's a shock realising how much there is to do," Liam O'Reilly says. "I'm trying to get to grips with three hours a night at the moment and I work in an off-licence at the weekend."

Liam hopes to do electronics and applied physics in DCU and is taking all his subjects, except Irish, at honours level. However, he says, if he doesn't get the points he needs there are other options: "I'll take a Post-Leaving Cert course and try to get in that way, but I will go on to third-level."

Eoin Condron is "dying to get the Leaving over and done with" but is undecided about his future: "I might leave Ireland or I might go to college. I'd like to do maths or physics in Trinity or DCU." One of the big attractions of Trinity, Eoin says, is its boxing club. He boxes for St Bridget's in Blanchardstown and would like to compete in the all-Ireland championship next year.

"The only thing is it clashes with the Leaving Cert. The main competition is in May. I'll be training every day from March 'til May. For me it's more important than study . . . maybe it's not as important as getting the exams."

Brian Geary says the year hasn't been too bad so far but is finding it difficult to make himself study: "At the start of the year, I was studying, but I kind of gave up last month when I turned 18. I've been going out a lot, and you couldn't really do much study the next day."

Brian says he goes to the library "now and then" but gets nothing done at the weekend when he works as a barman.

"I keep up with the homework, but it's that or nothing. Looking at what I have to have done, it kind of frightens me. My parents want me to get the best I can but I don't really have the interest. I'll have to get a load done now, because in February we've the mocks."

Anthony Hoban hopes to study medicine and is taking the Leaving Cert workload seriously: "I study every day from about 5.45 p.m. to 10 p.m. I don't want to do anything except medicine. I'll repeat in the institute next year if I don't get it . . . I haven't gone out in ages." He also spends a lot of time on grinds in maths, physics, French and English. "Grinds are brilliant, you cover so much so fast, I'd be lost in French if I didn't have them."

Although the teachers' strike caused some problems for the completion of courses, Anthony doesn't think it had a big impact on him. "I did work when we had days off so I wasn't greatly affected."

David McGuinness wants to study music technology or sound engineering. He works in a bar at weekends and finds distractions a bit of a problem: "I try to study but get fed up. I know there's a load to do." David is concerned about the economic situation, but optimistic about job prospects.

"We have been given really high expectations of what's out there for us. I know the economy has taken a downturn and it's going to be tougher to get jobs than it was four years ago, but I think we'll still get there."

The economy also worries Debbie McDonald in Loreto College, Crumlin, who plans to become a beautician. "In a few years time I want to own my own business as a beautician, but if the economy is bad people won't have money to get their nails done," she says.

Although the teachers' strikes didn't bother her too much when she was in fifth year, she is seeing their effects now: "The time we lost last year is affecting us now. We should have a lot more done. In social and scientific we've had to leave out anatomy and that's the bit I need for my course."

Gráinne Dennan hopes to study music and religion education in Mater Dei and is currently trying to keep up with music lessons as well as study: "I'm not very religious but there's a great link between music and religion as school subjects." Gráinne also works as a barmaid at the weekends and says it can be difficult fitting everything in: "I'll probably take time off work six weeks before the exams but I have to keep up the piano lessons and I need the money."

Time management is also a problem for Amy Sheridan, who is preparing her art portfolio: "I have to put art first, but I should be doing more. I do a few hours on my portfolio after school, but I'm feeling under a lot of pressure to get it done and I wish I had more revision of my other subjects done at this stage."

Emma Sterio is also preparing an art portfolio and is afraid it might affect her other subjects. "I knew a girl who put a lot of work into her portfolio and her other subjects really suffered," she says.

"Art and maths are my favourite subjects but I'm worried that I'm not putting enough work in and that stresses me. I'm doing maths grinds on Saturdays to catch up on what I missed last year. I didn't study on the strike days and I think we're all suffering now."

Aoife McGouran also believes the strikes have made a difference to her current workload. "I'm still catching up. The year itself it completely different to what I thought," she says.

Aoife plans to study early childhood care and education at the DIT. "I wanted to do primary teaching but I knew I wouldn't get honours Irish. If I don't get the course I want I'll do a PLC."

The appalling scheduling gaffe that sees State exams colliding with the World Cup has upset many students! While the boys in St Vincent's are resigned to recording the matches, for one Loreto football fanatic, it's just not good enough. "I think it's a disgrace, I've been looking forward to this for years. I'm very upset about it," says Debbie McDonald, but "I suppose I'll have to get them taped. I can't really miss the exams - I'd be killed."